It felt like no matter how much time passed Jason was sure he would never get used to being an alpha. Sure, it had been years since he came back to life and his second gender changed from omega to an alpha. But still, there were moments it shocked him when he did something very alpha like.

Like tonight.

He and Dick had been sent off to deal with a new villain who wasn't hurting anyone but was causing problems all around.

The guy called himself the Disruptor, and while he hadn't left a body count, he had managed to knock out the power grid across three blocks of the Diamond District.

"Keep your eyes open, Little Wing," Dick's voice crackled through the comms, light and steady, though Jason could hear the slight edge of exhaustion underneath. Dick had been running on three hours of sleep and a single energy drink.

"I've got the southern perimeter covered," Jason grunted, stepping over a pile of discarded debris.

That was when the scent hit him. It wasn't the metallic tang of the Disruptor's gadgets, but something entirely different: a sharp, spike of pure distress.

Before Jason's conscious mind could even process the smell, a low, rumbling sound vibrated deep in his own chest. It was a warning, a heavy and possessive sound that rumbled up his throat before he could stop it. He froze, his hand instantly flying to his mouth as the echo of the alpha growl died down in the empty street.

"Jason?" Dick asked, his voice coming through the earpiece. "Did you just growl?"

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose beneath his helmet. "Shut up, Dick. Just get over to the alley on 4th. We've got company."

The scent of distress grew stronger, weaving through the damp Gotham air until it was impossible to ignore. It wasn't just a generic spike of panic; there was an underlying sweetness to it, a distinct, magnetic pull that hit Jason right in the center of his chest.

His blood ran hot. It was a physical ache, a sudden and undeniable tether snapping into place.

A fated mate. He had heard about the phenomenon, of course, but it was rare, as he rounded the corner into the alleyway, his eyes locked onto a figure standing near the Disruptor's makeshift generator.

It was you.

You were frantically typing into a handheld terminal, your fingers trembling slightly as you tried to stabilize the power surge. You were wearing the signature dark tactical gear of the Disruptor's crew, but your scent was pouring out in waves of pure, unadulterated omega anxiety.

Jason didn't think. He didn't weigh the tactical pros and cons, and he certainly didn't wait for Dick to catch up.

He moved like a shadow, closing the distance in absolute silence. You barely had time to gasp before a massive, leather clad hand clamped down over the terminal, wrenching it out of your grip and tossing it into the darkness.

"Hey! What the—"

Before you could finish the sentence or reach for a weapon, Jason stepped into your space. The sheer size of him was overwhelming, and the heavy, intoxicating scent of his alpha pheromones flooded your senses, making your knees instantly weak.

"You're coming with me," In one swift, effortless motion, he ducked down, hooked his arm around your thighs, and hoisted you completely off the ground. He tossed you right over his broad shoulder like a sack of flour.

His hand firmly planted against the back of your thighs to keep you locked in place. He turned on his heel. The villain wasn't his problem anymore. You were.

"Jason!" Dick's voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of the alley. The older vigilante skidded to a halt, his eyes going wide as he took in the sight of Jason casually carrying a kicking, swearing villain henchman over his shoulder. "What are you doing? Is that one of the Disruptor's people?"

"Going off grid. Finish up here," Jason said over his shoulder, not even pausing his stride.

"Wait, you can't just kidnap them! Jason!" "Watch me," Jason called back. He fired his grapple gun with his free hand, the cable catching the edge of a nearby roof. In the next second, he launched both of you up into the skyline.